For once I think I WILL have a Merry Christmas!

[Wulfie]

My parents got divorced my senior year in high school and a couple of months later Dad met a new woman he cared for and eventually married. The fun part of my new step family? My step sister *Sandy* was my worst enemy in high school. She would go around and do everything in her power to make my life a living Hades. Things really didn’t change after we became a family and her siblings are not much better.  They actually told my brother and me at the wedding that they wish my Dad had not come “encumbered” with us. They proceeded to do everything in their power to drive a huge gulf between the three  of us. This was not hard as Dad was very abusive and our relationship was rocky already without the 4 of them doing everything in their power to make things worse.

I pretty much only see my father at the holidays now as *Sandy* has pretty much lived with my Dad and Step-mom for the last 8 years taking advantage of them.  She uses them as free room, board and babysitters and any time any of Step-mom’s 4 kids have problems they move back in with Dad and her. It really disgusts me to see 30-40 year olds act this way so I avoid going over there unless I have to.

Traditionally we go to Grandma’s for Christmas Eve dinner and exchanging presents with her and then on Christmas we go to Dad’s and do the family gift exchange. I hate going every year as the kids find some way to poke at me and/or put me down. Really is not a good situation but I am adult enough to blow it off for a couple of hours once a year and I don’t stay long as it is my tradition to volunteer somewhere on Christmas day. (usually a battered women’s hotline)   

This year to my very happy surprise Step-mom asked if I would prefer to skip the Christmas day get together and just do our exchange at Grandma’s this year as she knows it is a long drive for me. I live next to the major airport that serves our area which always adds about 30-45 minutes to the commute on Christmas day plus part of the freeway was damaged with the rains and floods we had so it is reduced to 2 lanes which I am sure will cause even more traffic snarls. YEA!!! No dealing with her kids this year!

[lindamay]

Congratulations! 

[Hopefull]

What a lovely gift!!!!

[dragonflies]

YaY!  What a wonderful holiday surprise!

[Heat04]

And a Merry Christmas it will finally be!
I HAD a step-mom, too, but my dad wised up and filed for divorce this year. She was an awful woman...I can relate to all of this. So, this year it's just my family and we are actually welcome this year (she never made us feel like my siblings and I were welcome to visit my dad).